New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin: the stuff of pulp novels

February 15, 2012|By Dave Rosenthal

The phenomenal debut of New York Knicks' rookie Jeremy Lin -- a Harvard-educated Asian-American -- has stunned the basketball world. Lin was not offered a Division I scholarship, went undrafted after college, and was cut by two NBA teams this season. But he was picked up by the Knicks, and after warming the bench for a bit, has led the team to six straight wins. According to ESPN, in his first five games as a starter, he scored more points than any other NBA rookie -- including Shaq.

These feats might have gone unnoticed in Oklahoma City or Sacramento. But in the media center of New York, he has inspired "Linsanity," and a legion of admirers, including teammates who seem genuinely, refreshingly amazed by his success.

This sort of tale has been the stuff of pulp novels for decades. As a kid, one of my favorite books was "The Kid who Batted 1.000," a short novel about a kid whose major talent was hitting so many foul balls that he walked time after time. (He might have been the precursor of Moneyball.)

You can't help but cheer for underdog's like Lin, who persevere and wind up with a shot at the big leagues. Here's hoping (as a long-time Knicks fan) that his wild ride lasts a lot longer.